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1st time in europe (need help with my itinerary)

I am originally from America and have been visiting Israel for a while. I'm now planning a (hopefully) month long trip throughout europe. I have very little experience traveling, and this will be my first time traveling alone and planning a trip for myself, I'l be flying from Israel to europe to start my trip.

I'm not sure if my itinerary is realistic. Any suggestions of what to add, remove, or rearange would be greatly appreciated!

I have around $4,000 and am trying to make my money stretch to allow me to see most of western europe. I'm planning on taking 2nd class trains most of the way around europe and will be staying in hostels.
-----WEEK 1------------
Tel Aviv - Israel
leave from the Ben Gurion Airport
Rome - Italy
2 days
Frlorence - Italy
2 days
Venice - Italy
1 day
Milan - Italy
1 day
-----WEEK 2------------
Swiss Alps - Switzerland

2 days

Train into the Swiss Alps to Interlaken; stay in the Lauterbrunnen Valley
Alps Appreciation Day: Spend the day enjoying the hiking and high-mountain scenery.

Munich - Germany
1 day

Bacharach - germany - rhineland
1 day

Rothenburg - Germany
1 day
take a tour and sightsee

Berlin - Germany
2 days
-----WEEK 3------------
Amsterdam - Netherlands
2 nights
(stay in the nearby town of Haarlem) ?

Brussles - Belgium
1 day

London - England
2 days

Paris - France
2 days
-----WEEK 4------------
1 Day (france still)

Versailles - France
1 day

Arles - France
1 day
Barcelona - Spain
2 days
Madrid - Spain

2 days

Posted by
32173 posts

Shlomo,

That's an ambitious Itinerary for a one month trip! Given the short time frame, I'd suggest dropping some of the destinations, as I don't think you'll have time. Also, you have too many one-day stops. Considering travel times, this is not really the most efficient travel method!

To begin with I'd suggest that you read the "Itinerary Planning" chapter in Rick's Europe Through The Back Door 2008 (and other chapters as well, especially "Rail Skills"). Also, look at open-jaw flights for best efficiency.

Allow more than one day for Munich, Rothenburg, etc. Also, London and Paris NEED more time! If you don't get to all the cities on this trip, "assume you will return". IMO you might want to drop Spain from this trip, due to distance and travel times.

Finally, does the $4K include air fare and rail passes? Is that $4K in US dollars?

I'll also send you a PM with some further suggestions.

Good luck!

Posted by
582 posts

I hope you do make it to Berlin! I was there for a full week in November 2007. Just loved it!
It would be a shame to miss Prague. A six hour train trip from Berlin. I know you can't go everyplace in one month, but Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and cheaper!!
HAVE FUN!!!

Posted by
23178 posts

The problem is that when you want to see everything, you see very little of anything. Way too many one days. You are going to spend half your time unpack. repacking, finding hostels, checkin and out, finding trains, waiting for trains, riding trains, etc., etc., etc. You can do it but I would not. I would cut it in half and spend more time seeing, absorbing the culture, and relaxing. Good luck

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for all your input. hows this for a new revised itinerary?

-----WEEK 1------------
Tel Aviv - Israel
leave from the Ben Gurion Airport //
Rome - Italy
3 days
Frlorence - Italy
2 days
Venice - Italy
2 days
-----WEEK 2------------
Milan - Italy
2 days
Swiss Alps - Switzerland

2 days
Munich - Germany
2 days
Berlin - Germany
1 day
-----WEEK 3------------
(Berlin - Germany)still
3 days
Amsterdam - Netherlands
3 days
Brussles - Belgium
1 day
-----WEEK 4 ------------
Paris - France
3 days
Versailles - France
1 day

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for all your input. hows this for a new revised itinerary?

-----WEEK 1------------
Tel Aviv - Israel
leave from the Ben Gurion Airport //
Rome - Italy
3 days
Frlorence - Italy
2 days
Venice - Italy
2 days
-----WEEK 2------------
Milan - Italy
2 days
Swiss Alps - Switzerland

2 days
Munich - Germany
2 days
Berlin - Germany
1 day
-----WEEK 3------------
(Berlin - Germany)still
3 days
Amsterdam - Netherlands
3 days
Brussles - Belgium
1 day
-----WEEK 4 ------------
Paris - France
3 days
Versailles - France
1 day